Reflectorial: #sochiproblems

#Sochiproblems seems to be trending topic getting all the laughs since the Olympics started on Feb. 7.

It seems the publicity of the event has been unevenly focused on the obvious flaws of the organizing of the $51-billion event — including one particularly hilarious event where a bob-sledder, Johnny Quinn, was trapped in a bathroom and an elevator in the same weekend.

These, while comical, do not begin to explain why #Sochiproblems has become the most poignant Twitterism of a generation. The utterly and embarrassing failings of Sochi begin with the deplorable and widely known treatment of the LGBTQ community in the Russian Federation.

The treatment became internationally known after President Vladimir Putin’s government legislated an anti-gay propaganda law, which prohibited gays from any public displays — including waiving flags and protesting.

Putin has since said that gay people must “leave children alone” during the Olympics.

Since the legislation was passed, the international spotlight has been on the public chastisement, beatings and brutal violence that the LGBTQ society has been forced to endure in Russia, during a time where global acceptance of the community has been generally moving in the positive direction. (Still a long way from where it should be).

What this issue represents is a value by the international community to step up for the values the Olympics ideally stand for.

We currently live in a world where the sovereignty of foreign nations is accepted as the status quo. This makes ignoring the hate crimes of another power — especially one with the political leverage of Russia — easy to do.

It shouldn’t be this way. Sovereignty is stripping us of a chance for human justice. It should be the responsibility of every citizen of earth to destroy discrimination and hate anywhere it exists — even if a constitution, a religious doctrine or any other piece of paper endorses it.

You may not think your average college student can change the political structure of a country as vast as Russia. To not make an attempt, however, is the indifference that spurns hate forward. Everything is helpful.

Keep using #Sochiproblems and tweet @reflectthis your stories about the injustice of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

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